… Pledges Support For Revenue Reforms
Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has presented a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), for the Commission’s office in Abia making the State the first in the South East to hand over land to RMAFC for its permanent office.
The Governor presented the documents when the chairman RMAFC Dr. Mohammed Shehu paid him a courtesy visit to the Governor at his Nvosi country home in Isialangwa South LGA, in company of his commissioners and other members of his delegation.
Otti appreciated said his government has been managing available resources to fix the State.
The State Chief Executive disclosed that his administration has consistently committed over 80 percent of its annual budgets in the last three years to capital expenditure, to give infrastructure, education and health a facelift.
“We are very happy that you are doing what you are doing. And we know that with the changes you are proposing, and with the President supporting us, States can be more empowered. If States are more empowered, they will do a lot more for the people,” Otti stated.
Otti added that most roads his administration has built are Federal roads, but he does not discriminate as long as authorization is granted to rebuild them for the benefit of Abians.
“All the good work we are doing is because we efficiently allocate our limited resources to areas of most important need. We are a very small State when you look at allocation. We are almost number 20, even though we have oil in one local government, but it is not that much,” Otti said.
Otti reassured RMAFC of his administration’s continued support and expressed hope that the proposed new revenue formula would be implemented soon to enable States to do more.
Earlier in his remarks, Shehu commended Otti for the prudent management of Abia State resources.
The Chairman noted that Abians are blessed to have Otti, adding that his achievements are evidence of prudent management of resources in the State.
The RMAFC Chairman particularly commended the administration for its massive investment in road infrastructure, noting that the construction and rehabilitation of over 400 roads, including bridges, have significantly impacted the State.
Shehu said, “I am so glad that today, I am able to make it, to see you here, and to see all the developmental strides that you have taken and are still undertaking since you assumed office as the Executive Governor of this State.
“I wouldn’t hesitate to say that this State is blessed to have you as Governor. Every independent analyst will testify that this is one of the best governed States in Nigeria. And you are certainly the best among all those who have governed the State.”
He further acknowledged the administration’s strides in primary healthcare, fiscal transparency and security, noting that the State’s improved fiscal performance and peaceful environment are indications of responsible governance.
He commended the State’s rise from 17th to 4th position in fiscal transparency and the reduction of its debt profile as significant achievements, stressing that they reflect effective utilization of statutory allocations and other resources accruing to the State.
Shehu disclosed that the Commission is undergoing reforms aimed at strengthening revenue monitoring, enhancing digitalization and improving real-time access to revenue information from revenue-generating agencies.
The Chairman also disclosed that the Commission is working on a new revenue allocation formula, noting that the existing formula has been in operation for decades and needs to reflect the changing responsibilities of the three tiers of government.
According to him, the review has become necessary as States now shoulder greater responsibilities, including in transportation infrastructure and other sectors previously dominated by the Federal Government.
On the Natural Resources Development Fund, he said steps are being taken to ensure that funds meant for development are recovered and appropriately utilized.
